A magnitude 3.6 earthquake broke 11 miles south-southwest of Ocotillo Wells Monday at 7:33 a.m., generating shaking that was briefly and softly felt as far west as Chula Vista, says the US Geological Survey. It appears that the quake occurred on or near the Elsinore fault zone, one of the most active systems in Southern California. Quakes of that size are common in that region of the desert and rarely lead to a larger event. Tom Rockwell, a seismologist at San Diego State University, often refers to these events as "garden variety" earthquakes.

The USGS says the quake, which began 3.9 miles below the surface, was felt in Boulevard, Borrego Springs, Alpine, Julian, Chula Vista, San Diego, Campo, Lakeside, El Cajon and Lakeside.